Kimono with Pines, Bamboo, and Plum

second quarter 20th century

Not on view

At first glance it might not be obvious that the trio of plants traditionally known as the Three Friends of Winter (shōchikubai)—pine, bamboo, and plum—are all depicted on this kimono. The evergreen pine, hand-painted above the hem in green glowing gold against the lavender ground, represents longevity and symbolizes renewal. The fast-growing and flexible bamboo, as the woven pattern of the purple fabric, stands for endurance and strength. The crest-shaped plum blossoms, in white embroidery on the shoulders, are the first flowers of spring and epitomize the renewal of nature. Together, these three auspicious patterns, which originated in China, have a long history in Japanese textile art. Here, however, the playful distribution of the motifs on the surface and the division of the space into a larger dark purple section and a narrower, lighter area represent a new, modern take on a conventional subject.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

紫綸子地松竹梅模様着物
Title: Kimono with Pines, Bamboo, and Plum
Period: Shōwa period (1926–89)
Date: second quarter 20th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Figured satin silk (rinzu) with hand-painted details and silk embroidery
Dimensions: Overall: 69 × 52 in. (175.3 × 132.1 cm)
Classification: Costumes
Credit Line: Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in memory of Terry Satsuki Milhaupt, 2013
Object Number: 2013.510.4
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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